Alarm-controlling device for sprinkler systems and the like



Aggivrfi 2925.

G. l. ROCKWOOD ALARM CONTROLLING DEVICE FOR SPRINKLER SYSTEMS AND THE LIKE Filed March 4', 1322 1 2 2.2. .gwwr

Patented l l i925.

GEORGE I. ROGKW'ODD, O1 WORCESTER, MASSACHUSETTS.

ALARM-CONTROLLING DEVICE FOR SPRINKLER SYSTEMS AND THE LIKE.

Application filed March 4, 1922. Serial No. 541,229.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, Gnoncn I. Roonwoon,

a citizen of the United States, residing at Worcester, in the county of l Vorcester and State of Massachusetts, have invented a new and useful Alarm-Controlling Device for Sprinkler Systems and the like, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to the operation of an alarm to show the opening of one or more sprinklers of an automatic fire extinguishing sprinkler system or other analogous installation. Numerous inventions have been made in this .line but those in use are open to the objection that in case of the closing of the alarm valve on account of a reversal of flow of the water, the supply to the alarm device may be interrupted. This sometimes stops the alarm and sometimes operates it intermittently.

The principal object of this invention is to provide means whereby, after the alarm is once started, it will be operated continuously until it is shut oil. by hand; and to provide this in a simple form that cannot get out of order under ordinary circumstances, and that will not fail to work. Further objects and advantages of the invention will appear hereinafter.

Reference is tobe had to the accompanying drawing which is asectional view of the alarm check valve of a sprinkler sys tem with a preferred embodiment of this invention applied thereto.

Although capable of general use, the in ventien is shown as applied to an alarm valve comprising a chamber 1 having an inlet passage 2 connected with a supply pipe. This chamber is provided with the usual valve which may be raised to permit the passage of water through the passage 2 into the chamber 1 and out through the stand pipe 8 to the sprinkler system when ever the pressure of water on the underside of the check valve'exceeds the pres sure on the upperside. It is understood of course that while the sprinkler heads of the system are closed, and in the absence of water hammer, no movement of water into the chamber 1 takes place; but when a sprinkler has opened the water passes through the chamber 1 in an uninterrupted manner provided nothing; causes a momentary cessation or reversal of new of the water in pipe 3.

It is usual to connect this alarm valve chamber with devices which will sound an alarm or displaya signal whenever the valve 5 is raised long enough for water to get to them, and I have showna usual construction in the form of annular passage or perforation 6 opening under the valve 5. The water is conducted from this passage through a pipe 7 in one way or another to a pipe 8 and from that to an alarm device 9. T have shown here a particular alarm which is shown in my Patcnt No. 1,11%528. This is for the purpose of illustrationonly as any desired kind of alarm or signal can be employed.

It will be understood that whenever the check valve 5 closes again after once opening, the flow of water to the alarm will cease. This closure sometimes occurs after the alarm has started and operated perhaps only for an instant. When it does occur, the fact that valve 5 is a difl'erential valve and the further fact that considerable air is always comnressed within the pipe system explain why it takes a certain appreciable time for the escape of water through the open sprinkler to reduce the pressure in pipe 3 suiiiciently to cause valve 5 to reopen. This phenomenon sometimes causes an intermittent alarm which is considered objection able. Experience shows it is more likely to happen when but one head has opened than when several heads are discharging.

To avoid this difiiculty I provide a casing 10 into which the pipe 7 has a tree passage.

The chamber 10 delivers water directly to the pipe 8. In this casing I place a diaphragm ll operated by spring 12 to force it into the position illustrated. This diaphragm has a central stud or connection 13 whichis provided with a valve 14 that closes a passage in a valve seat .15 normally. This passage is connected with a pipe 16 having a valve 17 and opening into the stand-- pipe 8. The valve 17 is kept open so that the valve 17 alone prevents the entrance of water into the casing from the stand pipe. Normally the spring 12 holds the valve 1-1 closed.

In the chamber 10 is a drain valve opening in a seat' 20 which seat has an arm 21 on which is pivoted a valve lever 22 having a valve 23 for closing the opening at 20. This lever has a forked arm which engages a pair of projections 24: on the stud 13 or otherwise connected with the diaphragm to move it. This valve oaening 20 is a mere drain opening and is made of such a size that the water supplied through the pipe I will rise in the chamber 10 in spite of this open drain.

In the operation of the device, when the valve 5 opens water will rush through the normally open stopand waste valve 26 and through thepipe 7 into the chamber '10. Alter it fills this chamber its pressure, added to that acting against the valve l t, will force the diaphragm 11 over to the left against the reaction otthespring as soon as the hydrostatic pressure due to the water -mounting in pipe 8 is sullicient to overcome the sprin and the diaphragm may be designed large enough to cause the valve 14.. .to open even before the water reaches the alarm. This results in swinging the lever 22 over to the left and closing the valve 23. As the movement of the diaohragm 11 will take the valve 14; with it, and as the stop valve 17 is normally open, water will then flow into the chamber 10 through the pipe 16 independently of pipe 7 and there will be thus two sources of supply to this chamber. This not only adds to the water pressure at the alarm but another advantage 0t this construction is that even it, tor any reason the valve. 5 drops back to its seat and the water is cut off from the pipeZ, after having once operated the alarm, that will have no ettect on the continuousness of the flow of-water to the alarm device for, whatever happens to the valve 5, the water will continue to hold back the spring 12 and thus keep the valve 1% open and cause the alarm to be sounded positively and without any danger of subsequent interruption by reason of closure of valve 5.

After the fire is out and the heads which have opened have been replaced with new ones and, the system has been refilled with water and is under pressure -from the source of the water supply, the attendant may restore things to normal condition by closing the valves 17 and 26. The water in the drip chamber will then drain out through the waste outlet. of the valve 26. When the water gets low enough the spring 12 will move the diaphragm back to the position shown and close the valve 1'-l. Then after the valves 26 and 17 are both reopened by hand, the device is ready for operationagain the next time a sprinkler head opens.

Although Ihave illustrated and described the invention as applied only to a single type oiiriser' and alarm I am aware of the fact that 1t 1s capableotgeneral ap olicatlon and also that variations can be ma e in the details of construction and arrangement of parts without departing from the scope of the invention as expressed in the claims. Therefore I do not wish to be limited in these respects, but what I do claim is through saidcommunicating means for admitting water to the alarm orsignal device directly from the distributing pipe. I

2. In a sprinkler system, thecombination with a check valve, a connection from the seat ojt-the check valve, and a chamber into which said connection discharges, of means for connecting said chamber with an alarm or signal, which will cause it to operate upon the filling of the chamber with water under pressure, a connection with said 1 chamber from the distributing pipe of the sprinkler system independent of the check valve and the first named connection, aspring, a diaphragm in the chamber held in position by the spring, and a valve operatedby said diaphragm and normally held closed for controlling the admission of water to the chamber from said connection, v.'hereby upon the filling of the chamber with water under pressure the diaphragm will move against its spring and open the valve and admit another current of water into the chamber from the distributing pipe of the system.

3. In a sprinkler system, the combination with a connection from the seat of the alarm check valve ofsaid system, and a chamber into which said connection discharges, of an alarm device connected with said chamber to be operated by water passing through it, a pipe connected with said chamber from the system side of the check valve, :1. spring-pressed diaphragm in the chamber, a valve operated by said diaphragm and normally held, closed for controlling the admission of water thereto through the connection with the last named pipe, and a lever in the chamber connected with the diaphragm to operated thereby and having a, valve thereon, said chamber having a drain opening, and a valve seat for said drain opening located in'such position that the last named valve will close it when the diaphragm moves back against the spring pressure. I

4-. In a sprinkler system, the combination with a chamber, a pipe connected with said chamber from the-low pressure side of. the sprinkler system, a spring-pressed diaphragm in the chamber, a valve operated seat for said drain opening located in such by said diaphragm and normally held closed position that the last named valve will close for controlling the admission of water it when the diaphragm moves back'against l0 thereto, and a lever in the chamber con-- the spring pressure.

5 nected with the diaphragm to be operated In testimony whereof I have hereunto thereby and having a valve thereon, said affixed my signature. chamber having a drain opening and a valve GEORGE I. ROCKVVOOD. 

